Ecurie Ecosse back on track for 2012 Le Mans

Scotland's most famous motor racing team, Ecurie Ecosse - which twice won the Le Mans 24-Hours - will return to action this summer 25 years after it won the C2 World Sports Car Championship.

The Edinburgh-based team has forged an alliance with Aston Martin Racing to race a DBRS9 GT3 in the 24 Hours of Spa in July

Team boss Hugh McCaig is using the Belgian race, on the famous Spa-Francorchamps F1 grand prix track, as preparation for a return to Le Mans next year. He said: "This is a very exciting development. I have been looking for an opportunity to take the team back into sportscar racing for some time, but the overall package had to be right.

"Now, with a team of ambitious and talented young drivers, together with a competitive manufacturer-backed car run by experienced engineers, I am extremely pleased we can now take this major step forward.

"We have partnered Aston Martin before and it is great to be doing it again 20 years later. Ultimately we want to be back at Le Mans and this is a fantastic starting point."

The drivers will be young Edinburgh racers Alasdair McCaig and Andrew Smith, plus English duo Joe Twyman (St Albans) and Oliver Bryant from Marlow.

In 2010 Twyman won his class at the 24 Hours of Spa in a Jota Sport Aston Martin and, in 2009, Smith claimed a front-row slot on the grid and fastest lap.

The return to competition of Ecurie Ecosse, which has been dormant on the international scene since the 1990s when the team won the British Touring Car Championship with works Vauxhalls, was welcomed by Scots sportscar legend Allan McNish. The double Le Mans winner and president of the Scottish Motor Racing Club, said: "It has such fantastic heritage with its legendary Le Mans wins and it will be nice to see the dark blue flags flying once again.

"The team has supported so many famous Scottish drivers making their way in the sport, including Le Mans winners, Indy 500 winners and F1 world champions."

Under the then ownership of Edinburgh accountant David Murray, Ecurie Ecosse rocked the establishment when its D-Type Jaguars won Le Mans back-to-back in 1956 and 57. The team's drivers have included Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, David Coulthard and McNish.